Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will contribute US$2.9 billion to the US economy and support 23,400 American jobs this year, according to new research by the global consultancy Oxford Economics.

Etihad Airways, the
national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will contribute US$2.9 billion to
the US economy and support 23,400 American jobs this year, according to new
research by the global consultancy Oxford Economics.

The study, commissioned
by Etihad Airways, projects that by 2020, the airline’s operating expenditure
and capital investments will almost double to support 46,200 American jobs and
deliver US$6.2 billion a year.

These are among the
key conclusions of the Oxford Economics Report, released today by Vijay
Poonoosamy, Vice President International and Public Affairs of Etihad Airways,
to quantify the economic contribution which the airline makes to the US.

The study, which is
now published on www.keeptheskiesopen.com, assessed the
airline’s capital expenditure with US suppliers and its operating expenditure
in the country to calculate a value for direct, indirect, induced and catalytic
contributions.

“Open Skies is good
for competition and good for the consumer, but most of all today’s report shows
it is also good for the American economy,” said Mr Poonoosamy.

“Since 2005, the
year before we started flying to America, our expenditure and activities in the
US market have supported thousands of jobs and helped to fuel domestic economic
growth,” he said.

“By 2020, Oxford
Economics calculates that we will have committed US$41 billion to the US GDP
through a combination of direct expenditure on our day-to-day operations in the
US and our long-term relationships with American partners including Boeing, GE
Aircraft Engines and Sabre Airline Solutions.”

Since 2004, when it
announced plans to acquire five Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, Etihad Airways has
introduced or ordered almost120 Boeing aircraft at a current list price of US$36.5
billion, including more than 70 B787 Dreamliner and 25 next-generation B777X aircraft.
The airline has also chosen US suppliers for other equipment ranging from cabin
interiors to inflight entertainment systems.

Mr Poonoosamy said a
number of US airlines were also beneficiaries of Etihad Airways’ presence in
the US market.

In 2014, Etihad
Airways delivered 182,000 connecting passengers onto US airlines including
American, United, Delta and Jet Blue.
This is forecast to grow to approximately 300,000 in 2015, an increase
of 65 per cent, following the introduction last year of new routes to Los
Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas Fort Worth.

“Put into
perspective, that’s equivalent to five full Boeing 737-800 flights every day of
the year,” Mr Poonoosamy said.

In addition to the
airline’s direct expenditure, Oxford Economics says a further US$1.3 billion
will be spent in America by the 260,000 international visitors which Etihad
Airways expects to carry to the US this year from a range of markets, including
countries across the Middle East and Indian sub-continent.

The economic
benefits of connectivity between the US and destinations in the Etihad Airways
network have been valued by Oxford Economics at US$410 million this year,
rising to an expected US$850 million by 2020.

Mr Poonoosamy said
Etihad Airways’ presence in the US market had generated economic activity for
third party organizations including hotels, ground transport providers and a
wide range travel industry partners.

The airline’s
economic contribution is further strengthened by its cargo activities, which
will contribute to the movement of 80,000 tonnes of freight to and from the US
this year. In addition to the freight space in the bellies of its passenger
jets, Etihad Airways has formed a strong partnership with the US aviation company
Atlas Air, which operates three Boeing 747 freighters on behalf of Etihad Cargo.

“Our most important
contribution to the US is choice,” Mr Poonoosamy said. “We deliver increased options
for consumers, and through our exceptional inflight service between the US, Abu
Dhabi and beyond we connect American travelers to destinations which were
poorly connected, or perhaps not connected at all.”

“We are all growing
as a result of Open Skies,” he said. “That is good for the airlines, good for
the US economy and good for customers.”